Munich Top Sights

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Part of the Residenz Photo - Munich Residenz, Munich, Germany

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Munich is the major city I enjoy most in Germany. It has so many great attractions, it is easy to move around and the locals seem to have a relaxed attitude to visitors.Munich considers itself a cultural city and certainly some of the galleries and museums are amongst the best in the world. It is also a city that has retained much of its history despite major destruction towards the end of World War 2. Many significant buildings have been rebuilt or repaired and the central city is now mainly pedestrianized so this is saving the buildings and making them easier for visitors to see.One of my favourite activities when in the city is to walk around admiring the streetscapes. All the entri...Read More

Munich is the major city I enjoy most in Germany. It has so many great attractions, it is easy to move around and the locals seem to have a relaxed attitude to visitors.

Munich considers itself a cultural city and certainly some of the galleries and museums are amongst the best in the world. It is also a city that has retained much of its history despite major destruction towards the end of World War 2. Many significant buildings have been rebuilt or repaired and the central city is now mainly pedestrianized so this is saving the buildings and making them easier for visitors to see.

One of my favourite activities when in the city is to walk around admiring the streetscapes. All the entries in this journal are within walking distance of each other and each is a major attraction in its own right. But the bonus is that in between each attraction, you will see some other great sights and enjoy some interesting street experiences. If you get a bit tired, there are cafes and beer halls for a drink and a place to rest the feet in almost every street.

Other journals of mine cover the art museums, the churches, and the gardens. These need to be checked out as well, but no-one should visit Munich without at least a glance at the old and new town hall, the Residenz and Deutsches Museums, and the old city gates. Together they show what an extraordinary city Munich is and give you a great reason to return for further exploring. What’s more, three of these are absolutely free. Now that’s a bonus for every tourist.

Quick Tips:

If you are museum buffs, both the Residenz and the Deutsches Museums can occupy a full day. We didn’t have this luxury so we attempted to catch the highlights. This was great but there is no doubt that I would give them more time on a future visit. It’s a good idea to start early.

The Glockenspiel at the new Town Hall is an attraction for thousands of visitors each day but frankly it is greatly overrated. Nevertheless, you must see it if you are near this area at 11am, noon or 5pm. The folks back home would just not understand if you don’t see it.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walk. All attractions are within walking distance of each other and there is no better way to enjoy the beauty and excitement of this city. Read Less

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Old Town

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Attraction | "Old City Gates"

Sendlinger Gate Photo - Old Town, Munich, Germany

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Munich, in common with many European cities, was once surrounded by a city wall. Of Munich's original five gates, only three remain today - the Karlstor, Isartor and Sendlinger Tor. They are a great reminder of the past and interesting attractions in their own right. They are still the major entrances into Munich's historic city center. Unfortunately, only remnants remain of the original structures. You will come to each gate as you explore Munich but if you want to check them out all together, it is only about a 20-minute walk between each.Isartor.This gate was built in 1337 and served as a fortification for the defence of the city under Kaiser Ludwig of Bavaria. It is the only gate to re...Read More

Munich, in common with many European cities, was once surrounded by a city wall. Of Munich's original five gates, only three remain today - the Karlstor, Isartor and Sendlinger Tor. They are a great reminder of the past and interesting attractions in their own right. They are still the major entrances into Munich's historic city center. Unfortunately, only remnants remain of the original structures. You will come to each gate as you explore Munich but if you want to check them out all together, it is only about a 20-minute walk between each.

Isartor.
This gate was built in 1337 and served as a fortification for the defence of the city under Kaiser Ludwig of Bavaria. It is the only gate to remain basically in its original form and is one of the few remaining landmarks from that period. The Isartor was restored between 1833-35 by Friedrich von Gärtner in fairly original style. The frescos, painted in 1835, depict the victorious return of Kaiser Ludwig after the Battle of Ampfing in 1322.

The building now houses the Valentin Museum. This small, humorous museum is dedicated to the comedian and actor Karl Valentin (1882-1948). This is the most easterly of Munich's three remaining town gates and leads to the River Isar. It is a very busy area and getting a good photograph is difficult.

Sendlinger Tor
The gate is a remnant of the second fortification of Munich under Emperor Ludwig and was constructed around 1318. It was the point of entry for traders travelling from the south (Italy).

It was originally a part of the outer city wall. The main tower in the middle was destroyed at the beginning of the 19th century; two hexagonal side towers and the walls were restored in 1860 by Zenetti. In 1906, the three original arches were replaced by one large arch so it is now much removed from the original design. Today it is nicely placed in a pedestrian area and looks much older than it is.

Karlstor
This is another of the town gates and dates from the 14th century. Incorporated at the end of the 18th century into the square known as "Stachus" (officially Karlsplatz). Today it marks one end of Munich's main pedestrian zone.

Karlstor served as Munich's western city gate in the large 14th century city wall, which replaced the smaller city wall from the 12th century, until Prince Karl Theodor ordered the city walls to be demolished in 1791. Only the gate was left standing and was renamed after the prince. In 1899-1902 Karlsplatz was redesigned by the architect Gabriel von Siedl. The gate was incorporated as the centrepiece of the neo-baroque square, which now also features a stunning fountain.

The street connecting the Karlstor with Marienplatz, the Neuhauserstraße, is the most important shopping street in Munich, so most visitors will find themselves at this gate during their stay. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 6, 2006

Old Town
Munich
Munich, Germany

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Old Town

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Attraction | "Old Town Hall"

Old Town Hall Photo - Old Town, Munich, Germany

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As you approach Marienplatz from the Isartor, the Old Town Hall is the most prominent building you see. It is not obvious what the building is and in fact even when you walk beneath the main hall there appeared to still be no sign telling you about the building. It was out with the trusty guidebook and all was revealed.The beautiful Old Town Hall was built in 1474 (incorporating a 1180 watchtower) and rebuilt after the Second World War in its original state. The building with its tower (which used to be a city gate and it now home to the toy museum) is fairly plain, at least compared to the new Town Hall but is appealing to me. Outside you will find a statue of Juliet (Romeo's Juliet) which wa...Read More

As you approach Marienplatz from the Isartor, the Old Town Hall is the most prominent building you see. It is not obvious what the building is and in fact even when you walk beneath the main hall there appeared to still be no sign telling you about the building. It was out with the trusty guidebook and all was revealed.

The beautiful Old Town Hall was built in 1474 (incorporating a 1180 watchtower) and rebuilt after the Second World War in its original state. The building with its tower (which used to be a city gate and it now home to the toy museum) is fairly plain, at least compared to the new Town Hall but is appealing to me. Outside you will find a statue of Juliet (Romeo's Juliet) which was a gift from Munich's twin town, Verona.

Only the Saalbau (the main hall) and the tower remain of the original Old Town Hall. The main hall is a masterpiece of medieval design under the barrel-vaulted timber roof. At footpath level, note the loyal lion statue, which has guarded the door to the old town hall for centuries and survived the destruction of Munich in World War II.

The tower of the Old Town Hall houses a toy museum. It was opened in 1983 by Ivan Steiger, a cartoonist and filmmaker, who started collecting old European toys. It is the story of a man who had a lifetime ambition to display his collection for all to enjoy in a venue which is as charming and fanciful as the toys themselves. This museum is a great place to take children to learn about the history of toys but it can be enjoyed by just about everyone.

The museum has a large collection of historical toys and other things related to toys and toy making. There are many interactive and informative displays. You climb a winding staircase to 4 different rooms each on a different level. There are also views of the city from the top. There's a small gift shop at the lowest level. Admission is around $4 for adults; $1.20 for children; and $8 for a family. The toy museum is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 6, 2006

Old Town
Munich
Munich, Germany

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Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)

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Attraction | "Town Hall"

Town Hall Photo - Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), Munich, Germany

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Built in Flanders Gothic style, this is one of the most famous buildings in Munich; its facade, over 300 feet in length, features strikingly elaborate stone ornamentation. Its 260-foot tower with carillon is, with St. Peter's Church and the twin towers of the Cathedral, one of the most distinctive features of the city's skyline.Built in the 1860s, the Munich City Hall’s neo-Gothic architecture is the result of a show of strength between a local, rather conservative, politician and the City Council. The politician opposed the Council’s plan for a Renaissance-style building to replace the old City Hall (Altes Rathaus). Eventually, Munich’s City Council caved in and asked Georg von Hauberrisser, ...Read More

Built in Flanders Gothic style, this is one of the most famous buildings in Munich; its facade, over 300 feet in length, features strikingly elaborate stone ornamentation. Its 260-foot tower with carillon is, with St. Peter's Church and the twin towers of the Cathedral, one of the most distinctive features of the city's skyline.

Built in the 1860s, the Munich City Hall’s neo-Gothic architecture is the result of a show of strength between a local, rather conservative, politician and the City Council. The politician opposed the Council’s plan for a Renaissance-style building to replace the old City Hall (Altes Rathaus). Eventually, Munich’s City Council caved in and asked Georg von Hauberrisser, then a 24-year old architectural student, to design a new City Hall.

Hauberrisser approached the task with the fervor characteristic of a newly employed college graduate. He designed everything himself, including the City Hall’s intricate facade, the labyrinth pattern on the floor of the main inner courtyard, the furniture and even the lighting fixtures.

In 1874, when the new building was ready to be opened, everyone realized there was one major problem: it was too small! While the City of Munich hastily arranged the purchase of additional land, von Hauberrisser went back to the drawing board. It was during the second phase of design and construction that the City Hall’s famous clock with its Glockenspiel was added.

The extension to the City Hall was completed in 1904. Today, it is very noticeable where the first construction phase ended and the second began. Red bricks of the earlier half meet with pale stone used in the building of the extension. In an effort to give the City Hall a more unified appearance, statues of the Wittelsbach royal family were added.

Fortunately, during the Second World War the building suffered little damage. The magnificent stained glass windows, the twisting staircases, the vaulted ceilings and the elaborately caved woodwork are, for the most part, in their original state.

On a clear day, visitors to Munich’s City Hall can enjoy far-reaching views of the city and the Alps from its 85-metre high tower. Every day at 11am, noon and at 5pm the almost life-size figures of the Glockenspiel re-enact two events of Munich’s history: a tournament held in 1568 to celebrate a royal marriage and Schäfflertanz (Cooper’s Dance), which dates back to the 17th century then celebrating the passing of the plague. You probably have to see it once but it really is overrated as a spectacle.

The Glockenspiel has existed since 1903, but the original clocks have been replaced by a music tape for the daily performances. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 6, 2006

Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall)
Marienplatz 8
Munich, Germany 80331
49 89 23300

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Munich Residenz

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Attraction | "The Residenz"

The Residenz museum Photo - Munich Residenz, Munich, Germany

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The Residenz was the former royal residence of the Bavarian Dukes and Kings. Today it is one of the finest room decoration museums in Europe. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and 130 rooms. The rooms and large halls can be visited, and the many collections of precious art, china, historic paintings, and old furniture paint a vivid picture of 500 years of Bavarian history.Arrows point you along the recommended route, as not all rooms are open at all times. In fact they change the route during the day so that early morning is different to the afternoon. If you follow the recommended route, you will find that it takes several hours if you have a reasonable look at things as you go...Read More

The Residenz was the former royal residence of the Bavarian Dukes and Kings. Today it is one of the finest room decoration museums in Europe. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and 130 rooms. The rooms and large halls can be visited, and the many collections of precious art, china, historic paintings, and old furniture paint a vivid picture of 500 years of Bavarian history.

Arrows point you along the recommended route, as not all rooms are open at all times. In fact they change the route during the day so that early morning is different to the afternoon. If you follow the recommended route, you will find that it takes several hours if you have a reasonable look at things as you go along. It can get a bit too much. There are no breaks, no coffee shops, and few toilets. If you have limited time, take a look at the museum brochure (they have an English version available) and pick the three or four things you most want to see in detail and just skim the rest.

Over the years, the original castle which had stood on the site since the 14th century, was gradually extended. Major work was carried out in the 17th century and then some significant additions were added in the 19th century to form the gigantic complex that exists today. During World War II, the Residenz was almost completely destroyed but many of the masterpieces inside were moved to safety before the bombs hit the palace. Because of this, much of the structure which you see today, is the result of post-war rebuilding.

Renaissance features predominate within the building and one of the most impressive rooms is the Imperial Hall. The Antiquarium, built in 1571, is the oldest part of the palace and houses the family’s collection of antiquities, whilst the Schatzkammer (treasury) holds an exquisite array of diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones. Other rooms display porcelain, Italian portraits and vistas, etc.

The Antiquarium has dozens of 16th and 17th century frescoes and is the largest Renaissance hall in northern Europe. The paintings on the ceilings are stunning and the marble floor is beautiful. The Antiquarium alone is worth the price of admission, and you can easily spend 30 minutes wandering around, taking in the scene.

Elsewhere, in the Ancestral Gallery, portraits of the family are set into gilded, carved paneling. Far Eastern porcelain and Oriental rugs can be found in the Porcelain Gallery. The rococo-style Cuvilliés Theater is the location for many concerts and operas during the summer season. The house jewels of the royal family on display in the Schatzkammer are one of the most important in the world, containing royal insignia, crowns, swords, goldsmith work, rock crystal, ivory work, and numerous other treasures.

Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the building.
Opening hours are 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 6, 2006

Munich Residenz
Max-joseph-platz 3
Munich, Germany 80539
49 (89) 290-671

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Deutsches Museum

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Attraction

Inside the Deutsches Museum Photo - Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany

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In my experience, this is probably the largest and best museum of science and technology in the world. It is also the most popular museum in Germany for good reason. The building is vast and it would take all day to see most areas. There is also an extensive library. The collection keeps growing so that the museum has now opened three other branches where some of the more interesting displays are now held. This is a great pity for the short-time visitor because these other venues are not close-by and most people will not make the effort to see them.I first visited here in 1966 and was blown away by the place. The huge railway, aviation and automobile displays were staggering. Some of these are...Read More

In my experience, this is probably the largest and best museum of science and technology in the world. It is also the most popular museum in Germany for good reason. The building is vast and it would take all day to see most areas. There is also an extensive library. The collection keeps growing so that the museum has now opened three other branches where some of the more interesting displays are now held. This is a great pity for the short-time visitor because these other venues are not close-by and most people will not make the effort to see them.

I first visited here in 1966 and was blown away by the place. The huge railway, aviation and automobile displays were staggering. Some of these are now in the branch buildings so the main museum was not quite so impressive from this point of view but many of the other displays have been upgraded and improved so there is still heaps to see.

One of the great things is the demonstrations that are held throughout the day. Most are only presented in German but English speakers will still have some idea as to what is happening. We particularly enjoyed the High-voltage unit which is demonstrated three times a day. It is obviously popular with others as it was quite crowded but you could still see everything.

The other area that I found fascinating was the mining section in the basement. You enter tunnels and shafts so soon it appears that you are in an actual mine. Someone I was with asked if this mine was still being worked today. Of course, it has never been a real mine but it is certainly lifelike. Many visitors miss this area. I strongly recommend that you don’t.

My engineering background came to the fore in the bridges area. There are photographs and models of many significant European bridges and a small curved suspension bridge to walk across. That is certainly unusual. I was also interested in the aircraft section where models and actual units take you through to the space age.

To really see the museum properly, you need a full day. We had nothing like this so had to try to see the highlights. Even then you need three hours and you need to cover four floors. There are few places to sit as you move around but there is a café/restaurant where you can take a break.

The Deutsches Museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm except January 1, Shrove Tuesday, Good Friday, May 1, November 1, and December 24, 25, and 31. Admission costs €8.50 for adults, €3 for children aged 6 and over. There is no charge for using the library or archive.

The use of cameras (still and video) is permitted for private purposes. The museum shop sells various publications as well as a wide range of scientific and technical books, toys, models, construction kits, etc. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 6, 2006

Deutsches Museum
Museumsinsel 1
Munich, Germany 80538
+49 89 21791

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